BILL OF RIGHTS

PERFORMANCE TASK


Pretend that you are a time traveler visiting the United States in 1789. Write a
letter to one of the founding fathers demonstrating why he should either include
or not include one of the rights from the Bill of Rights. You must demonstrate
that you are knowledgeable about the right that you chose, the founding father
that you chose, and that you are able to use evidence to back up your opinion in the
letter. You must also follow the conventions of a letter.

oal- To make an argument for or against a right in the Bill of Rights G
ole- An American citizen from 2013 R
udience- Founding Father A
roduct Letter P
xpectations- E
Show that you know about one right in the Bill of Rights!
Show that you know about one founding father!
Be able to use 2 to 3 pieces of evidence to back up an opinion!



4 3 2 1
Demonstrates
knowledge of a
right from the
Bill of Rights
Writing includes
both exact
language from the
Bill of Rights and
is also restated in
your own words.
Writing includes
ONLY either
exact language or
the right
restated in your
own words.
Writing does not
demonstrate that
you can restate
the right in your
own words.
Writing includes
NO information
about the right.
Demonstrates a
knowledge of
how your right
has affected
the lives of
Americans over
time.
Writing includes
at least 2 factual
examples of how
the right has
affected the lives
of Americans
over time.
Writing includes
only one factual
example of how
the right has
affected the lives
of Americans
over time.
Writing includes
INCORRECT
information about
how the right has
affected the lives
of Americans
over time.
Writing includes
NO information
about how the
right has
affected the lives
of Americans
over time.
Demonstrates
knowledge of a
founding father
Writing includes
at least 2 factual
pieces of
information about
your founding
father
Writing includes
only one factual
piece of
information about
your founding
father
Writing includes
INCORRECT
information about
your founding
father
Writing includes
NO information
about your
founding father
Writing uses
evidence to
prove your
opinion
(TAG Standard 10.
The student supports
and defends his/her
own opinions while
respecting the
opinions of others.)
Writing includes
3 or more pieces
of factual
evidence that
makes sense in
connection to
your opinion.
Writing includes
2 or 3 pieces of
factual evidence
but it is loosely
connected to your
opinion.
Writing includes
2 or fewer pieces
of evidence that
MAY NOT be
correct.
Writing includes
no evidence or
the evidence is all
incorrect.
Follow
conventions of a
standard letter
Writing has the
following
conventions:
heading,
salutation,
closing, and a
signature.
Writing is missing
one or two of the
conventions.
Writing is missing
two or more of
the conventions.
Writing is missing
all of the
conventions.
Writing is
grammatically
correct
Writing has no
grammatical
errors.
Writing has 2 to
3 grammatical
errors.
Writing has 5 to
7 grammatical
errors.
Writing has 7 or
more grammatical
errors.